Bronze Age

The Bronze Age extends between 3200 and 1200 BC, essentially from the beginning of written history to widespread collapse in civilisations throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Advancements were made in metallurgy and bronze tools, especially for farming, construction and warfare; in pottery and ceramics, used for storage, cooking and transportation of goods; in wheeled vehicles such as carts and chariots; in writing systems that allowed documentation of laws, administrative matters, religious texts and history; in textiles and weaving; and in craftsmanship of iron, silver and gold, in the creation of intricate jewelry, ornaments and decorative items.

Human history would see the rise of ancient Egypt, Sumer and Akkad, the Hittites, Mycenaean Greece, the Indus Valley culture and the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties in China. In northern Europe, the gnomish Vepsian empire would comprise much of Europe's northern forests. Elves from the west would appear and found the Colyan culture. Hobgoblins would build an empire, the Yaxjasso, that for a while controlled much of Siberia. There would be other, numerous civilisations that would also rise, many for which knowledge in the game world is lacking.

Egypt

Main Article: Egyptian History

The era comprised the Early Dynastic period, followed by the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms, the last of which ended in 1090 BC. The Old Kingdom (c.2780-2270 BC) saw the building of the Pyramids at Gizeh, flourishing of agriculture, occupation of the Sinai and it's copper mines and the establishment of Egypt's enormous wealth, centered in Memphis on the Upper Nile. Nonetheless, as centuries passed, these lavish expenditures brought about a period of economic and political collapse.

The Middle Kingdom (c.2143-1790 BC) reunified Egypt with it's centre at Thebes. Penetrating south, above the 1st Cataract, and militarily into Syria, the era is marked by a classic periof of art and literature, along with long distance trade being established with the Fertile Crescent and the Red Sea. But the period ended in confusion following the invasion of the Hyksos from Syria.

The New Kingdom (c.1555-1090 BC) drove out the Hyksos and re-established Egypt's unity. Egypt became a great military power, conquering Syria, contending with the Hittites and making Egypt the most feared state in the region. A process of disintigration began, however, as Egypt's Syrian border became too costly to maintain. Sea raiders plundered the Delta as Libyans challenged Egypt's power in the west. Eventually, the unrelenting drain on Egypt's finances would bring about a complete collapse of the state at the end of the 12th century BC.

Mesopotamia

Main Article: Mesopotamian History

The Euphrates-Tigris valleys were dotted with small Sumerian city-states, chief among them that of Uruk, the largest and most active. Trade was brisk amongst these cities, including Ur and Lagash, and war common. No city during the early period could gain advantage over the others, until the rise of Akkad. Sargon of Akkad campaigns established an empire in the 24th century BC that would excel as none other. Still, internal strife brought about Akkad's decline, and other city-states were left to pick over the remains. The city-states of Ur, Isin and Larsa each enjoyed a period of pre-eminence, but these struggles weakened the Sumer culture. At the same time, Amorite peoples from the west settled in various places in Mesopotamia, gaining influence.

In the 18th century BC, Hammurabi came to power as the ruler of the city-state of Babylon. As the Babylonian culture advanced, the older Sumerians lost their identity; but again, after 150 years, the Babylonian Empire began to fragment. Cities were abandoned, while drought, war and pestilence spread. Hittites sacked Babylon in 1595 BC. Hurrians came from the north, overrunning the lands of Syria and the upper Euphrates; these would establish the Mitanni Kingdom, between old Babylonia, Egypt and the Hittites.

The last of the Babylonian dynasty came to ruin in the 16th century BC, whereupon Kassites would move in and rule over the southern plain. Their decline in the 12th century would lead the region into a period of political turmoil.

Surrounding Cultures of Mesopotamia

Elamites

Dating back to the 3rd millennium BC, the Elamites originated in the region of Elam itself, encompassing southern parts of the Persian plateau. Their civilisation evolved independently from neighbouring Sumeria and Akkadia as a collection of city-states and centres, notably Susa. These had frequent interaction with the Sumer valley and places east, participating in trade and diplomacy, and occasionally war. Due to the influence of Mesopotamia, Elam's culture would begin to reflect those of Sumer.

Elam would remain a significant civilisation in the region as other empires rose and fell. In the 16th century BC, Elamite power reached a period of prominence. A notable Elamite dynasty, the Shutrukid, would rule Elam from the late 12th century and into the Late Bronze Age.

Hittite Culture

The Hittites were a feudal state of central Anatolia that emerged around the 17th century BC. Its chief city, Hattusa, was founded about that time. The culture's exact origin is unknown, but it's certain they migrated into the region from elsewhere. Adopting and adapting elements of culture and civilisation that already existed in Anatolis, and over time, they developed their own distinctive religious beliefs, art and administrative systems. At it's head was a hereditary ruler, the Great King.

Their substantive advancement was an early mastery of ironworking, giving them a significant advantage in military technology. They were among the first civilisations to use iron extensively, a metal stronger than bronze. The Hittites were also skilled charioteers and innovators in the chariot's design. Coupled with their advanced fortification techniques, the Hittites proved a formidable enemy for the Egyptians, and much later the Mitanni, with whom they competed. Adopting cuneiform writing from the Babylonians, the Hittites proved to be skilled diplomats and negotiators.

In the late 16th to early 15th centuries BC came a series of wars with the Mitanni. During the 14th century, BC, under the rule of Suppiluliuma I, the Hittites experienced a period of expansion and military successes, conquering significant parts of Anatolia and northern Syria, especially against Egypt. Following the treaty of Kadesh (1274 BC), hostilities would end and peace was restored. However, in the centuries thereafter, the kingdom would suffer repeated raids by the Sea Peoples (seafaring raiders) and a crippling series of droughts. Internal strife and changing power dynamics disrupted their trade. With the destruction of Hattusa (c.1180-2000 BC), most likely by the Assyrians, Hittite power would vanish. Their lands would be occupied afterward by the Phrygians and Lydians.

Mitanni Culture

The Mitanni people (Hurrians) are believed to have migrated into northern Mesopotamia around the 15th century BC. They occupied a strategic position along trade routes, facilitating interactions between Kassite Babylonia, Anatolia and the Levant. The kingdom reached its height within the next two hundred years. However, the civilisation eventually weakened due to conflicts with neighouring powers. By the 13th century BC, they were on the wane, eventually to be absorbed into the Hittite and Assyrian empires. While their impact upon the broader region's culture and politics was significant, their contribution was considerably less than that of other states.

Levant

Main Article: Hebraic History

At the beginning of the 3rd millenium B.C. the kings of the early dynasties of Egypt were sending expeditions northward to conquer the land of Canaan in order to control its commerce and obtain timber, metals, and other raw materials. Fortified towns were built, notably the walled city of Jerusalem. Through much of the Bronze Age, this region was subjected to the rule of outsiders; but in the 14th century BC, a collection of Hebrew clans entered and settled here. As the Hittites and Egyptians began to collapse, these established a small culture from Galilee to the Jordan river, whose religious and cultural views would have enormous influence in the Late Bronze Age.

Hellenistic Cultures

Minoans

A sophisticated and prosperous society that flourished on the island of Crete in the Aegean Sea, roughly from 2700 to 1450 BC. Emerging from early settlements and agricultural communities, a complex culture arose with the construction of the first palace complexes in the late 3rd millennium BC. Trade networks expanded and the Minoan's culture reached neighbouring regions.

Palaces were contrived with multi-story structures upon intricate layouts, featuring courtyards, storerooms and workshops. As skilled seafarers engaging in maritime trade, contact was mantained with Egypt, the Levant, Anatolia and the Greek mainland. Art and pottery, and crops like barley, wheat, olives and grapes, made the bulk of goods that were traded. The Minoans also developed a writing script, which today remains largely undeciphered.

The height of their culture occurred between 1700 and 1450 BC. During that time period, there occurred the explosive eruption of the Thera volcano in the Aegean Sea, some 68 mi. north of Crete, in which the island was obliterated. But though the event likely had an effect on the Minoans, it's not the reason for their demise. Meaningful decline occurred in the half-century after 1450 BC, when internal conflicts produce violence and upheaval; the island would also be raided from the sea at the time. For about two centuries, the arrival of the Mycenaeans brought about a sharing of culture and trade. Yet in 1200 BC, the Minoan culture was inexplicably destroyed and abandoned, marking the end of their civilisation.

Mycenaeans

The Mycenaean peoples emerge between the 16th and 15th centuries BC, migrating south into the Greek mainland from the continent. Ruled by a warrior aristocracy, their agrarian society consisted of labouring free persons and slaves. As skilled warriors, the Mycenaeans engaged in trade and conflict with other cultures, notably the Minoans and Hittites.

They're best known for their construction of massive fortresses and palaces, employing the use of large, irregularly-shaped stone blocks without mortar. Advances were made in metalworking and craftsmanship, a more simplified writing system based on the Minoan model, agricultural innovations and advanced shipbuilding techniques. Developing advanced military technologies, using bronze swords, spear tips and armour, as well as chariots, they possessed a prowess that made them feared in battle. For the most part, these advancements were built upon the knowledge and influence of earlier Minoan advances.

While the civilisation was at it's height between the 14th and 13th centuries BC, within a century the Mycenae culture experienced a rapic collapse. Illiteracy led to a period of technological regression, which coincided with a period of internal strife. The depletion of resources and the destruction of multiple palaces suggests a civil war — while at the same time, Dorian peoples from the north, among other groups, caused a severe dissolution. The period would herald a great mythological tradition of Greek Olympus, the Trojan War and profound heroes such as Theseus, Hercules, Achilles and Odysseus. That the events surrounding these myths fell into the "dark age" that followed the Mycenaean collapse is intriguing.

Harappan Culture

Interactions between indiginous groups and migrants brought about a flourishing of culture in the region of the Indus River valley, sometime in the late 4th millennia BC. At cities such as Harappa and Mohenjodaro, the fertiled floodplains of the river encouraged a complex agricultural society in which settlements had well-organised street grids, advanced drainage systems and multi-story buildings made of fired brick. The people engaged in extensive trade within their civilisation and with both Mesopotamia and India. Written records did exist, as fragments have been found, but never a complete example. The civilisation thrived for 13 to 14 centuries.

Cities possessed public baths, granaries and citadels, all fashioned from standardised bricks. Standardisation was also applied to weights and measures. Pottery was known for its high quality and intricate designs. The Harappans were proficient in metallurgy also, fashioning objects made of gold, copper and bronze. Religious practices are speculative; most likely, the people continued to follow animism and were never contacted by the gods.

Beginning around 1900 BC, the region saw significant declines on the availability of water; signs point to a shift in the Indus River basin, which disrupted irrigation systems vital for food production. It's unknown if social unrest or conflicts contributed to the culture's demise; alternatively, some form of epidemnic may have devastated the population, resulting in a scattering of peoples and a widescale loss of knowledge. The period of complete decline likely took hundreds of years.

Indian Culture

Main Article: Indian History

Various cultures across different regions of the Indian subcontinent were relatively dispersed. The use of bronze did occur upon the Gangetic plains and parts of eastern India. In Western India, the Ahar-Banas culture, situated in later Rajasthan, developed copper and bronze tools and ornaments, along with pottery, between 2500 and 2000 BC. Other cultures associated with bronze-making include the Malwa of central India and the Pandu. The latter are associated with megalithic structures such as dolmens, standing stones and cairns, the latter arranged in stone circles.

Vedic Culture

Prior to 1500 BC, the appearance of two distinct groups began a process of cultural exchange, assimalation and coexistence. The first, the Kolarians, had been spreading from the east for centuries prior to the "Vedic Period," bringing subsistence agriculture, traditional music, dance and religious rituals. The Dravidians were indigenous to the southern parts of India, and apparently separate from other cultures of the region like the Pandu.

Within the cultural mix of these peoples, the intervention of gods brought about the composition of the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. The Rigveda consists of hymns dedicated to various deities and natural forces — notably Indra and Agni. A social caste structure arose in tribal communities, restricting the individual's relationship to religious beliefs, daily life and social norms, while villages became organised around pastoralism and agriculture.

Chinese Culture

Main Article: Chinese History

The Yangshao culture of the Chalcolithic began to establish more permanent settlements as the Bronze Age opened, which contributed to the rise of Longshan Culture along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River after 2500 BC. Known for its distinctive black pottery, the Longshan would feature larger, more complex settlements and a greater social complexity — though minimal use of bronze metal took place. Nonetheless, the culture laid the groundwork for the subsequent Erlitou Culture, centered in the central plains south of the Yellow Basin.

Practicing an advanced metallurgy, the Erlitou period (1900 to 1500 BC) saw a proliferation of bronze use, though for simple objects such as tools, ornaments and ritual vessels. The emergence of a complex city spawned technological innovations like pottery, agriculture and metallurgy continued to develop, influencing social structures and economic activities. Cities had planned layouts, rammed earthen walls and palace-like structures.

By 1600 BC, China was on the cusp of the Shang Dynasty, a crucial period in ancient Chinese History. Shang culture would displace the Erlitao over a century and a half, introducing a written script and more complex bronze casting, especially weaponry and chariot fittings. Cities underwent more deliberate urban renewals, with walled enclosures, royal tombs and administrative structures. Trade and diplomatic relations were carried on with settlements along the upper Yellow river, the Sichuan basin, and with steppe nomads. This trade would contribute to the growth of the Zhao peoples in the west, who would supplant the Shang, who by the end of the Bronze Age had shown marked signs of decline.

Vepsian Empire

Main Article: Gnomish History

During the Chalcolithic Period, scattered gnomish tribal lands of the Neolithic demonstrate a natural affinity for nature enable them to develop an intimate understanding of placer mining and metallurgy, mastering bronze crafting as the Bronze Age begins. For protection, villages are built as semi-underground complexes with easy access to the surface and agricultural fields; this arrangement provides resistance against the harsh climate north European forests and plains.

A series of pre-Vepsian cultures emerge as gnomish technological achievements accelerate: notably Harn in the east, near the Volga Bend, and Nanbrun in present-day Norway. Vepses itself gathers a coalition of villages surrounding Lake Ladoga and forests to the south. All three, and others, succeed in producing harder alloys of bronze — nearly as hard as iron — along with small scale mills that employ water and wind power. This skill in harnessing natural energies becomes a hallmark of their society.

Trade between these gnomish entities permits a sharing of knowledge and peaceful coexistence, which by 2400 BC succeeded in created an electoral gnomish "empire," the Vepsian, stretching from the realms of Vastenjaur, in present day Sweden, to Harn. Nanbrun was nominally detached, but shared in trade benefits, as did multiple halfling and human communities within and adjacent to the extant empire. Vepses became a melting pot of northern cultures and knowledge.

However, as aggressive species such as gnolls and orcs encroached on its eastern borders, many gnomish tribes resented the ideals of war and instead gave way to these outsiders. The region of Harn alone developed a militaristic attitude, even as neighbouring gnomes migrated away, depopulating many regions. By 1800 BC, elvish expansion brought about a series of treaties in which gnomes surrendered forests north and west of Ladoga. The lack of communication between regions led to a leadership crisis, weakening the emperor's grip on the entity as a whole; and as trade routes withered, a technological stagnation took place. By the end of the Bronze Age, the empire had ceased to exist in all but name, while other races occupied what were once gnomish lands.